A pack of twenty to the north
Tiannas Enemy Search found a new pack.
There are more goblins than usual today.
Tianna shook her head.
Theyre not goblins, their magic energy is too high
Too high? How high?
Hum, three times higher than normal goblins, and one in particular is about five times higher.
Thats not good.
Do you know what they are?
Yes, theyre probably hobgoblins And an ogre.
Nick answered Tiannas question with a nervous expression.
In the season when the miasma becomes thicker, a goblin evolves into a hobgoblin, which is the boss of this place. But if no one kills that hobgoblin, it evolves further into an ogre. Intermediate adventures can deal with it, but its tough for everyone below that.
So what should we do Nick? Retreat?
Nick didnt answer Sems question right away.
No
Is there a problem?
When an ogre is around, it absorbs other packs into its own, so the common etiquette is for the party that found the ogre to return to the guild right away, so they can put together a group to take it down.
All the more reason to retreat
But I want to avoid that.
Eh?
Nick answered Sems question with despair in his voice.
We dont have money. Ten or twenty goblin ears arent enough to pay for everyone lodging.
Ah!
The other three let out a foolish voice.
They were all so excited to explore a labyrinth, that they forgot about their financial situations.
Ogres have huge bodies that are resistant to magic I think it would be difficult to take it down with my magic alone, but I can hold it back.
I see So its up to the vanguard.
I can use support magic. I will cast sturdy to raise defense and mighty to raise physical strength. Thats all I can do really, since I cant fight the ogre directly
Sem mumbled dejectedly, and Nick looked at Karan.
Karan, have you ever fought an ogre?
Not an ogre, but I fought a thing stronger than an ogre more or less by myself.
Seriously? What
Pot snake.
Ah
Nick never conquered the Jar Of The Hermit Snake.
That labyrinth was incompatible with Nicks old party, so they gave up on it, or were smart enough to realize their incompatibility with it, depending on how you look at it. The pot snake has higher defense than an ogre, so if she fought it alone, strength should not be an issue.
But there were other problems.
Karan, we need your attack power I cant do it, it has to be you. What do you say?
Ill do it.
Were going to leave the vanguard to you, are you really alright with that??
Nick, or rather, everyone, noticed it.
Leaving the vanguard to Karan would put her in a position similar to when she was abandoned.
No problem.
Still, Karan silently nodded.
Alright, lets do it.
It wasnt much of a strategy.
Sem would strengthen Karan and Nick in the vanguard, Tianna would shoot her Icicle dance and take down the hobgoblins, and Karan would finish the ogre while Nick kept it in check. That was all.
Alright, there they are.
Said Nick.
The four of them used the trees to hide while moving, and eventually found the ogre and the hobgoblins. Unlike goblins, hobgoblins and ogres had red skin. Hobgoblins were a little shorter than human adults, while the ogre was much bigger, about two heads taller. It was using a tree trunk about as wide as a human torso as a make-shift club. Its size was certainly intimidating.
But they were there, and there was no turning back.
Here it goes Sturdy, Mighty.
A dim light came out of Sems palms, and it surrounded Karan and Nick.
Be careful, it only lasts about thirty minutes.
Yes.
Got it.
Nick and Karan nodded, and Tianna started focusing her magic energy.
Here it goes Are you ready?
Tianna looked at Karan, not Nick, but she didnt answer, she just held her dragon bone sword tightly.
Are you scared Karan?
! Y-You think Im scared!?
Well, I am.
D-Dont lie. You fought monsters like that before havent you?
Yes, Im not scared of the hobgoblins or the ogre, because I know very well that theyre my enemies.
Whats scary is thinking about whether or not you can trust the people with you. Am I wrong?
Karan loosened her grip a little bit.
I know youre not like the ones that betrayed me, but
Weve only known each other for a few days, its only natural. So doubt me Karan.
Eh?
You too Tianna and Sem. You need to see for yourselves if Im worthy of being your partner.
See for ourselves? You know, this really isnt the place to be talking about this
Shes right Nick.
Nick paid no heed to Tianna and Sems words.
You can fire whenever youre ready Tianna.
Geez, dont blame me if it doesnt go well! Icicle Dance!!!
And then, several dozens of icicles shot out from Tiannas staff, and the Goblin Forest boss fight began.